Ferritin low.... what's happening here?

[goingholiday]

Hi everyone,

Had my annual Medichecks blood test which came back with a surprising result. My ferritin level has decreased from last year. I followed all the invaluable blood test protocol advice from this site and since my results last year have been taking Thorne Basic B, D3, K2-Mk7, magnesium chloride spray and eating Brazil nuts daily (the ones grown in selenium rich soil .... another useful forum tip!)

May 2022 my ferritin was 68 ug/l (13-150)

July 20223 ferritin is down to 92.1 ug/l (30-650)

If my maths is correct, that is an initial 40.1% through the range down to 10%. Any advice please on anything I can do to improve this?

Another matter regards my T4 and T3 levels: T4 is now 20.9 (12-22) 89%

T3 is now 4.6 (3.1-6.8) 40%

That's a big difference isn't it? I was going to request an increase in levo but these results have made me question that? Should I now be preparing for battle and asking for T3?

My main symptoms are bloating, brain fog, anxiety and lack of stamina when walking or socialising, I just run out of steam.

Words of wisdom much appreciated 😀

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Was test done early morning, around 9am only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

did you stop B complex 5-7 days before test

Ignore the range is different on latest result

Ferritin is over 90ug that’s a good result and has increased since last test

See SeasideSusie reply in this post discussing different range

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

goingholiday

May 2022 my ferritin was 68 ug/l (13-150)

July 20223 ferritin is down to 92.1 ug/l (30-650)

You really can't compare these results. Although both tests were with Medichecks different labs have been used to process them. The May 2022 test was processed by County Pathology and the July 2023 test processed by Inuvi. We know this because Inuvi is the only lab which uses the range 30-650 for people over the age of 60. With County Pathology they use the range of 13-150 for females of all ages.

If you want an accurate comparison then do a Medichecks iron panel as that is sent to County Pathology (I do this test and it's always sent to CP). Medichecks now seem to use Inuvi for their Advanced Thyroid Function test. You could, in future, ask Medichecks to arrange for County Pathology to process all your tests.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No mention on your profile of testing thyroid antibodies for autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

Have you tested antibodies at any test?

Are you on gluten free diet as well as dairy free

If not get GP to do coeliac blood test BEFORE trialing gluten free

what are vitamin D, folate and B12 results

What was TSH in July test

FT4: 20.9 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 89.00%

FT3: 4.6 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8) 40.54%

We frequently see this once TSH drops low and Ft4 get’s high in range Conversion rate diminishes

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking -

125mcg daily?

Perhaps try small reduction in levothyroxine to 125mcg and 112.5mcg alternate days

Retest in 6-8 weeks

If Ft3 doesn’t improve …….Likely to benefit from slightly lower dose levothyroxine and addition of small doses of T3 alongside levothyroxine

List of thyroid specialists and endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[goingholiday]

SlowDragon and Seaside Susie,

Thank you for your replies. Yes I followed all the testing advice, always have Teva and stopped the B complex before the test. I will update my profile regarding the Hashimotos.

TSH in July was 0.018 and yes I'm taking 125mcg daily. Luckily I have bought a pill cutter expecting to be cutting to increase not decrease my dosage ..... oh the joys and surprises of the thyroid !! I will give the decrease a try, thank you.

I haven't tried gluten free and have been reading with interest Hashiboy's thread regarding the gluten free experience. I had a test for food sensitivities and didn't get any antibodies for gluten just for milk and eggs hence the dairy free option.

Thank you for sorting out the ferritin issue, at least that is one less thing to worry about.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to goingholiday]

what were most the actual recent vitamin D, folate and B12 results

[goingholiday in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon

Vitamin D 167 nmol/L (50-250)

Folate serum 45.4 nmol/L (8.83-60.8)

B12 (active) 78.6 pmol/L (37.5-188) - another range change

My antibodies are pretty much the same as last year :

TgAb 144 (0-115) last year this was 134

TPOAb 31.2 (0-34) last year this was 37

Thank you for helping me out on this, much appreciated 😊